Showing posts with label Weight loss. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Weight loss. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
A Workout Update
Hey look at me... I am in ohio, visiting my sister and I have time to write!
So it is about time to post some of my workout results.
Weight loss: lameness. I have only lost two pounds. I am finally focusing on my diet and what I am putting into my body. I am confident that we will soon see some changes on at scale, because.....
Inches Lost: TWENTY INCHES LOST!!!!! I have lost four full inches from my waist, and inch on each bicep, two inches on my hips, and an inch on each thigh, plus a few more here and there. It is awesome to see my body respond in a good way to all the hard work I am putting in at the gym. If you have been pregnant, you know the feeling of "holy cow....is that MY body?!" well, I have started thinking that thought again, but in a good way. I am by no means "skinny" or even near my goals, but the changes are happening and it feels good.
Self-esteem: almost more importantly than anything else, I am most pleased with the increase in my self-esteem. I have completed fitness activities that I did not think I could do. I have made huge improvements on those activities and because of those successes I have found that I am much more confident in what I am capable of. I still give my trainer a dirty look when she tells me to run on the treadmill at the speed of 7 and an incline of 6.5... But I get on that treadmill and do it. I can lift more weight, hold a plank a full minute longer than when I started, and burpies aren't quite as horrible as before. It feels so good to feel stronger, and so good to be able to post that I AM STRONGER.
Again, I am not claiming Superwoman status, but I am claiming to be on my way to SuperMe status.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Making Some Progress
So I had two back-to-back personal training sessions. Today I can barely type. Everything hurts.
During my session yesterday I came to the realization that I was having a bit of trouble making it through the workouts without getting down on myself. I thought, "Man, I'm just so tired of sucking at all this." I talked to my trainer about it and told her how frustrating it was to feel so weak day after day. I acknowledge that I'm only 9 sessions in... but that's 9 hours of feeling like a wimp. Steph confidently told me I had been improving and she could see it. She also pointed out that I'm not paying her to make easy work outs for me. True, true. When we finished up the workout, she told me she would go back and look up what I did during my first workout with her and we would do it again. She guaranteed me it would be easy.
So when I met with her today (after running a mile on the treadmill - which I hadn't been able to do without A LOT of complaining and contemplating quitting just a few weeks ago) Steph told me we were going to do bits and pieces of my first two work outs... with a little tweaking to make sure I would still get a good workout today.
First up were planks with jumping jacks (plank position on hands and toes, then jump legs apart and together). First session I had to do 10... and I barely made it through. Today, I did 30. I was panting a bit, but I did them without stopping. Yes! The second set of these today I had to add "up downs" where I go from being on two hands, down to my elbows, and back up again, in between each jack.
Second, sitting on the mat I leaned back about halfway (probably less than that at the end), knees bent, feet off the ground. She tossed a medicine ball at me, I caught it, tapped it on the ground to the right then the left, and then tossed it back to her. Three weeks ago I couldn't hold my feet up and we did 10 with a lighter ball; today I managed to keep my feet up and we used a heavier ball. I admit I had to take a break or two though.
The session went on and on, the exercises became more and more difficult and less and less like my first session, but I got the point, I've made some strides; gained some strength and endurance. Most importantly, I have had a mental shift from "there's NO WAY I can finish this and I don't want to try," to "I'll give it a go, not sure I'll make it through all the reps without stopping, but I can push through it."
It's nice to know these sessions are working. I'm getting stronger and learning an important lesson about what I am capable of doing. Meanwhile, I can hardly move!
***I just took a photo of my sneakers since they are my training partners and are "with me every step of the way," but my camera battery died while trying to upload it.***
During my session yesterday I came to the realization that I was having a bit of trouble making it through the workouts without getting down on myself. I thought, "Man, I'm just so tired of sucking at all this." I talked to my trainer about it and told her how frustrating it was to feel so weak day after day. I acknowledge that I'm only 9 sessions in... but that's 9 hours of feeling like a wimp. Steph confidently told me I had been improving and she could see it. She also pointed out that I'm not paying her to make easy work outs for me. True, true. When we finished up the workout, she told me she would go back and look up what I did during my first workout with her and we would do it again. She guaranteed me it would be easy.
So when I met with her today (after running a mile on the treadmill - which I hadn't been able to do without A LOT of complaining and contemplating quitting just a few weeks ago) Steph told me we were going to do bits and pieces of my first two work outs... with a little tweaking to make sure I would still get a good workout today.
First up were planks with jumping jacks (plank position on hands and toes, then jump legs apart and together). First session I had to do 10... and I barely made it through. Today, I did 30. I was panting a bit, but I did them without stopping. Yes! The second set of these today I had to add "up downs" where I go from being on two hands, down to my elbows, and back up again, in between each jack.
Second, sitting on the mat I leaned back about halfway (probably less than that at the end), knees bent, feet off the ground. She tossed a medicine ball at me, I caught it, tapped it on the ground to the right then the left, and then tossed it back to her. Three weeks ago I couldn't hold my feet up and we did 10 with a lighter ball; today I managed to keep my feet up and we used a heavier ball. I admit I had to take a break or two though.
The session went on and on, the exercises became more and more difficult and less and less like my first session, but I got the point, I've made some strides; gained some strength and endurance. Most importantly, I have had a mental shift from "there's NO WAY I can finish this and I don't want to try," to "I'll give it a go, not sure I'll make it through all the reps without stopping, but I can push through it."
It's nice to know these sessions are working. I'm getting stronger and learning an important lesson about what I am capable of doing. Meanwhile, I can hardly move!
***I just took a photo of my sneakers since they are my training partners and are "with me every step of the way," but my camera battery died while trying to upload it.***
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Remember that Weight Loss Goal?
So I got pretty distracted from my weight loss goal during September. There was always something else to think about, focus on, and keep me out of the gym. I honestly don't even know if I made it into the gym one time during the month. Bah.
However, once we arrived in California, I was pumped to get back on track and continue where I left off. I had read a few friends' Facebook posts about great Zumba classes so I decided that was the gym I would join. I'm proud to announce I am a new member of 24-Hour Fitness. I also decided that I had proved to myself (and the blogging world) that I can NOT do this on my own and decided to throw caution to the budget wind and hire a personal trainer. When I was signing up I was pretty much putty in their hands and followed their suggestions. I have a trainer hired for 3 days per week for 8 weeks. It's go time.
Holy cow, I have NEVER worked out so hard in my entire life. I used to think that I knew how to work out. I did not. Steph has me doing box jumps, jump ropes, frog jumps, and wall jumps. She has me doing regular planks, high-low planks, and (for the love of pete) walking planks. She has me hating burpies, burpies, burpies, and more burpies. I've bear walked around the gym, sprinted then push-up-ed, boxed and kick-boxed, lunged throughout the cardio machines, ran on a treadmill, walked backwards on the treadmill, and even PULLED the stinkin' treadmill with my hands.
I used to be able to run a quick errand at Target after working out... not anymore, my friends. I had to go buy new shirts to workout in because cotton tanks just don't cut it anymore. I am a sweaty gross mess. Pushing myself so hard and finding out what I am actually capable of is pretty awesome but I disgust myself with my own stench.
Tomorrow is my first measurement day since signing up two weeks ago. I added one extra training session this past Saturday, so I have completed a total of 8 sessions with Steph. I'm feeling stronger in just two weeks but am doubtful about the actual weight loss. It usually takes a month or so to see the results show up on the scale so I have pretty low expectations. I'm getting a lot of motivation from seeing a bit less pudge and a little more muscle, and have my sights set on FINALLY getting back to wedding weight!
'Til tomorrow....
However, once we arrived in California, I was pumped to get back on track and continue where I left off. I had read a few friends' Facebook posts about great Zumba classes so I decided that was the gym I would join. I'm proud to announce I am a new member of 24-Hour Fitness. I also decided that I had proved to myself (and the blogging world) that I can NOT do this on my own and decided to throw caution to the budget wind and hire a personal trainer. When I was signing up I was pretty much putty in their hands and followed their suggestions. I have a trainer hired for 3 days per week for 8 weeks. It's go time.
Holy cow, I have NEVER worked out so hard in my entire life. I used to think that I knew how to work out. I did not. Steph has me doing box jumps, jump ropes, frog jumps, and wall jumps. She has me doing regular planks, high-low planks, and (for the love of pete) walking planks. She has me hating burpies, burpies, burpies, and more burpies. I've bear walked around the gym, sprinted then push-up-ed, boxed and kick-boxed, lunged throughout the cardio machines, ran on a treadmill, walked backwards on the treadmill, and even PULLED the stinkin' treadmill with my hands.
I used to be able to run a quick errand at Target after working out... not anymore, my friends. I had to go buy new shirts to workout in because cotton tanks just don't cut it anymore. I am a sweaty gross mess. Pushing myself so hard and finding out what I am actually capable of is pretty awesome but I disgust myself with my own stench.
Tomorrow is my first measurement day since signing up two weeks ago. I added one extra training session this past Saturday, so I have completed a total of 8 sessions with Steph. I'm feeling stronger in just two weeks but am doubtful about the actual weight loss. It usually takes a month or so to see the results show up on the scale so I have pretty low expectations. I'm getting a lot of motivation from seeing a bit less pudge and a little more muscle, and have my sights set on FINALLY getting back to wedding weight!
'Til tomorrow....
Monday, August 29, 2011
Since You've Been Gone...
.... or maybe "since I'VE been gone" but no matter. I haven't written much. At all.
Week Four of the Weight Loss Journey: Stagnant. Stagnant like stinky gross pond water. I must get re-focused and motivated. My good buddy gave me a helping hand with that earlier last week. She helped me see that nearly everyone else in the world who is in shape has made choices that led them to be in shape. I think this is how I started my weight loss journey four weeks ago - knowing that I would need to make the choices, have the self-discipline, etc. to reach my goals. But I've already begun to be an expert in excuse-making in the last four weeks. But instead of excuses for my behavior, they were excuses as to why other's could be fit and I couldn't:
* "Well, she has REALLY good genes. Being thin is natural for her."
* "She actually LIKES to work out!" [gasp] (Wait a minute, I used to like to work out too! Hmmm.)
* "Her metabolism is just so high."
* "It's not my fault I need more sleep than so-and-so."
And on and on... it's not healthy. And, more importantly it's really not true. No matter the genes, metabolism, sleep habits, if I'm not working out or eating right there's no where else for me to look. And so, we are back on track.
Despite my lack of improvement on the scale, I did have a good and exciting moment this week:
On a whim, I popped into a dress store for a formal dress for a gala dinner that P and I will attend at the end of September. I found one I liked and sent camera-phone pictures to my sister. It was a size 12. (There, I've said it, it's a size 12... I was going to make it all ambiguous like "the size I have been since post-partum #3", but I'm throwing it out there and stating my size.) So, as I said, this is the size I've been in my post-partum days (after breast-feeding did it's work and all the initial weight dropped off). ANYWAY.... I put the dress on hold until I can get another opinion. So, the next day, I take my good buddy shopping with me. Thanks to the camera-phone pictures texted to my sister, she suggests I try a size 10. My sister is certain I'm wearing my clothes one size too big because I'm not used to "tight" clothes and I'm just being baggy. So, I look to grab a size 12 and 10... but lo and behold there is no size 10. Only a size 8. My good buddy encourages me just to grab it anyway and so I head into the dressing room with a comfy size 12 and a tiny size 8. On goes the 12 and good buddy says "Oh yes. I DO like it! Definitely worth the sales price for sure!" Into the dressing room I go to change into normal baggy clothes. The size 8 is eyeing me and daring me to squeeze into it. And so I do... and up goes the zipper all the way to the top!!!! Good buddy gives me a look that makes me wonder if she's about to say "Oh dear, good buddy" as in "Oh dear, good buddy, don't wear that in public." But instead it comes out as, "Oh dear, good buddy I didn't realize when you were wearing it but the size 12 is definitely too big. This is the size you should get." So... triumph of the month... I walked out of the store with a size 8!!! And a size 8 that was 50% off, no less!
My next goal for exactly 21 days is to make my new size smaller-than-normal dress to fit just absolutely perfectly.... it's time to tighten up a bit here and there. I have invested in some new tools. Two DVD's are on their way to help me trim up. I'm looking forward to giving you the "skinny" on them next week.
Week Four of the Weight Loss Journey: Stagnant. Stagnant like stinky gross pond water. I must get re-focused and motivated. My good buddy gave me a helping hand with that earlier last week. She helped me see that nearly everyone else in the world who is in shape has made choices that led them to be in shape. I think this is how I started my weight loss journey four weeks ago - knowing that I would need to make the choices, have the self-discipline, etc. to reach my goals. But I've already begun to be an expert in excuse-making in the last four weeks. But instead of excuses for my behavior, they were excuses as to why other's could be fit and I couldn't:
* "Well, she has REALLY good genes. Being thin is natural for her."
* "She actually LIKES to work out!" [gasp] (Wait a minute, I used to like to work out too! Hmmm.)
* "Her metabolism is just so high."
* "It's not my fault I need more sleep than so-and-so."
And on and on... it's not healthy. And, more importantly it's really not true. No matter the genes, metabolism, sleep habits, if I'm not working out or eating right there's no where else for me to look. And so, we are back on track.
Despite my lack of improvement on the scale, I did have a good and exciting moment this week:
On a whim, I popped into a dress store for a formal dress for a gala dinner that P and I will attend at the end of September. I found one I liked and sent camera-phone pictures to my sister. It was a size 12. (There, I've said it, it's a size 12... I was going to make it all ambiguous like "the size I have been since post-partum #3", but I'm throwing it out there and stating my size.) So, as I said, this is the size I've been in my post-partum days (after breast-feeding did it's work and all the initial weight dropped off). ANYWAY.... I put the dress on hold until I can get another opinion. So, the next day, I take my good buddy shopping with me. Thanks to the camera-phone pictures texted to my sister, she suggests I try a size 10. My sister is certain I'm wearing my clothes one size too big because I'm not used to "tight" clothes and I'm just being baggy. So, I look to grab a size 12 and 10... but lo and behold there is no size 10. Only a size 8. My good buddy encourages me just to grab it anyway and so I head into the dressing room with a comfy size 12 and a tiny size 8. On goes the 12 and good buddy says "Oh yes. I DO like it! Definitely worth the sales price for sure!" Into the dressing room I go to change into normal baggy clothes. The size 8 is eyeing me and daring me to squeeze into it. And so I do... and up goes the zipper all the way to the top!!!! Good buddy gives me a look that makes me wonder if she's about to say "Oh dear, good buddy" as in "Oh dear, good buddy, don't wear that in public." But instead it comes out as, "Oh dear, good buddy I didn't realize when you were wearing it but the size 12 is definitely too big. This is the size you should get." So... triumph of the month... I walked out of the store with a size 8!!! And a size 8 that was 50% off, no less!
My next goal for exactly 21 days is to make my new size smaller-than-normal dress to fit just absolutely perfectly.... it's time to tighten up a bit here and there. I have invested in some new tools. Two DVD's are on their way to help me trim up. I'm looking forward to giving you the "skinny" on them next week.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Week 2: Coughing-the New Ab Exercise
So early last week I started having a scratchy throat, which quickly progressed into a tight chesty cough, which transitioned into a hoarse voice, stuffy nose, and a cough that always included at least a dozen linked coughs. You know the kind, you start to say something and then you have a little tickle, a little cough, bigger cough, cough, cough, cough, cough, cough, hack, hack, hack. Ugh.
My exercise included nothing more than coughing and walking around looking for where I last put the kleenex box. My diet was minimal as everything tasted like nothing. I could not smell since my nose was completely stuffed.
The good news is... I'm down a pound. Not as fantastic as last week, but I will take it!
My goals and motivation and everything will be the same as last week, but with minimal cardio since my lungs are still bronchitis-y. Taking deep breaths still puts me into a coughing tizzy.
I am hoping that this week I will find the energy and thoughts to post a blog every evening. It was for your benefit that I took this week off as my topics would have included: "bronchitis - the good, the bad, and the ugly," "the inside of my lungs are itchy," "how many tissues does it take to get my nose empty," and "Nyquil delirium." I'm sure there are more interesting things to read on the internet and so I spared you. Hopefully this week will be filled with brilliance and wit. (maybe.)
My exercise included nothing more than coughing and walking around looking for where I last put the kleenex box. My diet was minimal as everything tasted like nothing. I could not smell since my nose was completely stuffed.
The good news is... I'm down a pound. Not as fantastic as last week, but I will take it!
My goals and motivation and everything will be the same as last week, but with minimal cardio since my lungs are still bronchitis-y. Taking deep breaths still puts me into a coughing tizzy.
I am hoping that this week I will find the energy and thoughts to post a blog every evening. It was for your benefit that I took this week off as my topics would have included: "bronchitis - the good, the bad, and the ugly," "the inside of my lungs are itchy," "how many tissues does it take to get my nose empty," and "Nyquil delirium." I'm sure there are more interesting things to read on the internet and so I spared you. Hopefully this week will be filled with brilliance and wit. (maybe.)
Monday, August 8, 2011
Week 1: Weight Loss Journey
Well, ladies and gentlemen (if there are gentlemen reading this?), I had my first weigh-in this morning and the results are: lost 5.5!!!! Wahoooo. So, I'm definitely on track for losing the 10 lbs. by Halloween. It feels good to be going in the right direction, but I'm still a little leary for the following reasons:
1. I've been trying to lose this weight for a year, and this is the first time I've had serious results. Is it a fluke?
2. I haven't really done much different this week; I worked out 4 days and tried to push myself a little harder, I ate the same amount of food just tried to eat more filling foods (I feel like I ate my weight in egg whites, spinach, and chicken breasts!).
3. I'm heading into a "heavy" time for my body, so this weight loss could easily bounce back to a weight gain.
HOWEVER, I'm determined to have a more positive outlook on this journey than I had over the past year. For all those times I said, "I'll probably never actually get down to my goal weight," or "There's no way I can stick to this long enough," or "My thighs can never be thin and lean," I'll now be saying "I will be at my goal weight on my birthday" [even writing that, I had some doubt creap up "really?! will I really get that low?"] and "I will stick this plan as long as it takes, but all I need to think about is sticking to it today" and "If I want thin, lean thighs, I best make friends with a treadmill, my pilates dvd, and squats!"
So, I'm thrilled with the results, but hesitant in a good way that will keep me from giving in to my cravings for chocolate. I taught my Zumba class this morning and pushed myself pretty hard. Tomorrow will be an earlier-than-normal gym day at 8am, Wednesday will be a light exercise day that will be done at home, Thursday will have to be hard gym day, and Friday night Zumba class.
New addition for this week
Daily Exercises when I wake up:
* 10 push-ups (real ones, not "girl" ones.... why are easy push-ups "girl" push-ups?!)
* pilates ab series, I can't remember the official name, but I'll know what to do.
* 50 squats
Daily Exercises during kids' nap time:
* 10 push-ups
* 50 squats
Goal for this week
* To not gain the weight I usually do during "this time of the month." (TMI, I know.)
Motivation for this week
This is a stock photo... obviously, since I have dark hair and Paul is blonde. However, the idea of a tropical location for our 10 year anniversary trip is definitely motivating. Who wants to be sitting in that chair thinking "man, my thighs are squishy."
1. I've been trying to lose this weight for a year, and this is the first time I've had serious results. Is it a fluke?
2. I haven't really done much different this week; I worked out 4 days and tried to push myself a little harder, I ate the same amount of food just tried to eat more filling foods (I feel like I ate my weight in egg whites, spinach, and chicken breasts!).
3. I'm heading into a "heavy" time for my body, so this weight loss could easily bounce back to a weight gain.
HOWEVER, I'm determined to have a more positive outlook on this journey than I had over the past year. For all those times I said, "I'll probably never actually get down to my goal weight," or "There's no way I can stick to this long enough," or "My thighs can never be thin and lean," I'll now be saying "I will be at my goal weight on my birthday" [even writing that, I had some doubt creap up "really?! will I really get that low?"] and "I will stick this plan as long as it takes, but all I need to think about is sticking to it today" and "If I want thin, lean thighs, I best make friends with a treadmill, my pilates dvd, and squats!"
So, I'm thrilled with the results, but hesitant in a good way that will keep me from giving in to my cravings for chocolate. I taught my Zumba class this morning and pushed myself pretty hard. Tomorrow will be an earlier-than-normal gym day at 8am, Wednesday will be a light exercise day that will be done at home, Thursday will have to be hard gym day, and Friday night Zumba class.
New addition for this week
Daily Exercises when I wake up:
* 10 push-ups (real ones, not "girl" ones.... why are easy push-ups "girl" push-ups?!)
* pilates ab series, I can't remember the official name, but I'll know what to do.
* 50 squats
Daily Exercises during kids' nap time:
* 10 push-ups
* 50 squats
Goal for this week
* To not gain the weight I usually do during "this time of the month." (TMI, I know.)
Motivation for this week
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
No Time Like the Present
There's "no time like the present", or "no time like when prepping for a cross-country move", or "no time like when you know you are ALL DONE having babies", or "no time like 9 months before your 32nd birthday"to finally, finally, finally lose the extra weight that you've been carrying around. So now, I'm putting it in writing. If you are reading this, I give you my full permission to ask me how my weight loss journey is going whenever you want. I'm putting it out there so that I will feel accountable to more than just myself.... I am an outstanding excuse-maker and an even more outstanding excuse-acceptor, so I have not been holding myself accountable very well.
If you know me (which I assume you do because how else would you be reading my bloggity blog?) you know I've been chatting about getting this weight off for a good year now. But I mean it this time. For real. It's time for true-blue healthy eating with no excuses. It's time for working out with no excuses.
I've been wanting to drop these pounds for awhile without being willing to make any drastic changes. I've taken several classes in college about phyiscal fitness, I'm a certified group fitness instructor and have been teaching Zumba for a year. I KNOW what I need to do. However, I can't seem to get my rear in gear and DO what I know I need to do. I'm hoping by putting it in writing I'll be able to follow through and have a place to go to remind myself of what I'm doing.
MOTIVATION
1. I want to be happy with what I see in the mirror.
2. I do not want "well you did have three babies in three-and-a-half years" to be the response I get when talking about weight loss. (I DARE you to write that in my comments. I DARE you!)
3. I want to move to California and not feel completely out of place with all the skinny-mini health nuts out there.
4. I want to surprise Paul when he comes home from deployment... he doesn't leave for a few more months, but I need to use those months to get some good habits going!
5. I want my kids to know that a fit mama is not a rare bird.
GOALS
1. Drop 40 pounds total (and I do not mean "drop a 40 pound dumbbell on my toe). That means: 10 pounds by Halloween; 15 pounds by Christmas (allowing some wiggle room for holiday eating); 25 pounds by Valentine's Day; 35 pounds by Easter; 40 pounds by my 32nd birthday. Howdy Ho Weight Loss!
2. Get into my all-time favorite jeans that I wore before my first pregnancy. Yes, I know "your body may never go back to the same size as you were pre-pregnancy" but let me tell you... I was not super-model skinny before Grace... I'm confident this is a do-able feat.
3. Wear a bikini when Paul and I go on our 10 year anniversary trip.
ACCOUNTABILITY
1. I am going to blog my thoughts and progress every Monday. If you don't want to hear about yet another weight loss journey, just ignore my Monday blogs. Sorry, but I gots to do this.
2. Again, feel free to corner me the next time you see me and ask me if I'm sticking to it.
3. Pictures from my anniversary trip... hopefully I'll be sporting a two-piece (that doesn't include a tankini and a skirt as my current swimsuit does now).
Okay, present... there's no time like you! Time to step away from the Nutella tub. It's time to eat CLEAN and get strong.
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